Ceiling speakers used to be exclusive to PA systems. Now, they’re popping up in more and more homes. They’re great for background music, family movie nights, gaming, and lots more.
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Many brands are being introduced into the market. So we wanted to weed out the bad ones and find the best ceiling speakers available today.
Here’s a quick, yet comprehensive, buying guide to help you pick your favorite.
The 5 Best Ceiling Speakers: A Buyer’s Guide
Polk Audio RC80i 2-way Premium In-Ceiling 8" Round Speakers, Set of 2 Perfect for Damp and Humid Indoor/Outdoor Placement - Bath, Kitchen, Covered Porches (White, Paintable-Grille)
Featuring 8-inch blue polymer woofers, this set of 2 speakers offer dynamic sound. It comes with a 1-inch tweeter for an in-depth, rich sound experience. The mounted tweeter can pivot up to 15 degrees.
The mineral-filled polymer cone woofer has a rubber seal to provide high-quality sound. It also prevents moisture and dust from getting into the speakers. This makes it a great feature to have in kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas.
These Polk speakers can be quickly installed in 3 easy steps. They’re white, but the aluminum grilles can be painted to match any room style.
Features
- 100w RMS
- 90 dB audio sensitivity
- 10¾ × 3⅝ inches (diameter x depth)
- Weighs 4.3 lbs
Pros
- Easy to install
- Durable
- Minimal interior design
- Rubber seal prevents moisture and dust
- The magnetic grille is easily removable
Cons
- Doesn’t have a backing
Klipsch CDT-5650-C II In-Ceiling Speaker - White (Each)
This impressive Klipsch speaker comes with Horn-loaded and Controlled Dispersion Technology (CDT) systems. They distribute sound smoothly and naturally.
It has a 6.5-inch Cerametallic Dolby Atmos woofer and 1-inch titanium tweeters which provide rich, dynamic sound for the entire room. The woofers can pivot 15-degrees in any direction. The tweeters can rotate 360 degrees to further enhance the Dolby 3D effect. This speaker provides you with a wide range of settings that go from stereo all the way to a 7.1 system.
For a more unique experience, Klipsch installed mid-bass and treble attenuation switches. These switches help you alternate from gaming to movie settings effortlessly and without lag.
Features
- 100w RMS
- 94 audio sensitivity
- 9.5 × 4.5 inches (diameter x depth)
- Weighs 7 lbs
Pros
- Easy to install
- Comes with attenuation switches
- Easily removable exclusive SlimTrim magnetic grille
- Durable
- Customizable sound systems for crisp sound delivery
- The grille can be painted
Cons
- Price is a bit high
Micca M-8C 8 Inch 2-Way in-Ceiling Round Speaker for Whole House Audio, Home Theater, Indoor or Covered Outdoor Areas, 8" Woofer, 1" Silk Tweeter, 9.4" Cutout Diameter, White, Paintable...
This speaker is affordable and easy to install. It’s a 2-way speaker with an 8-inch poly woofer. The Micca M-8C comes with a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter for smooth sound distribution. The woofer and tweeter work together to give a natural sound application.
This woofer also produces great bass output. For many, this eliminates the need for a subwoofer. However, if you want to add a subwoofer, this extends the bass capabilities even greater.
Its grille can be painted to match your room style. It’s durable and offers high-quality, dynamic sound throughout the room.
Features
- 100w RMS
- 90 dB audio sensitivity
- 10.7 × 3.5 inches (diameter x depth
- Weighs 5 lbs
Pros
- Easy to install
- Can be set up in a variety of configurations
- Durable
- Blends with room decor
- Easily customization with help of pivoting tweeter
- Affordable price
Cons
- The grille is pressure-fitted which makes it difficult to remove
- Poor sound isolation
Acoustic Audio by Goldwood CS-IC83 8 3-Way In Ceiling Home Theater Speaker System (White, 5 Speakers)
This set of five speakers provides a 3-way sound with the help of many high-quality features. It has an 8-inch polymer cone woofer with a butyl rubber surround system. There are 13 mm soft dome tweeters for evenly distributed sound throughout the room.
These speakers have pressure lock mounting clamps. This mounting system locks into drywall for a safe and secure installation process. Their unique all-weather design makes them suitable for placing both indoors or outdoors. They can even be used as boat audio systems.
Features
- 350w RMS
- Audio sensitivity is 95 dB
- 9.49 × 3.7 inches (diameter x depth)
- Weigh 4lbs each
- 5 3-way classification speakers
Pros
- Easy installation
- The all-weather design makes them suitable for indoor or outdoor use
- Grilles and frames can be painted
Cons
- Grilles can become loose because they’re not screwed on
YAMAHA NSIC800WH 140-Watts 2-Way RMS Speaker -- White (2 Speakers)
These Yamaha speakers offer dynamic stereo sound. They feature 8-inch polypropylene mica cone woofers with sealed backs to protect against moisture and dust.
They have in-built grain-finished acoustic baffles. Their spiral pattern disperses sound naturally. 1-inch fluid-cooled soft-dome swivel tweeters give you the freedom of positioning your sound wherever you please.
The magnetic grille can be painted over that means they won’t be an eye-sore. They have slim profiles that offer a unique and stylish look. They come with large mounting clamps with non-slip treads for easy installation and a tight finish.
Features
- 140w RMS
- Audio sensitivity is 90 dB
- 10⅞ × 4¼-inch (diameter x depth)
- Weighs 4.2 lbs
- 2-way coaxial speakers
Pros
- Don’t require professional installation
- Easily removable magnetic grille
- Grilled can be painted
- Uniform sound distribution throughout the room
- Mounting clamps offer a non-slip tread for safe installation
Cons
- Aren’t as sturdy as other brands
Benefits of Using Ceiling Speakers
- Better sound quality
- Space-savers
- Built-in acoustics
- Less noticeable
- Reduced acoustic interference
- Tweeters can be rotated to allow for a more dispersed sound
- Some are resistant to humidity for use in kitchens or bathrooms
- Some have grilles or frames that can be painted to match your room style
What to Look For in a Ceiling Speaker
Speaker Depth
This depends on the amount of open space you have behind your ceiling. If you have a small space, opt for thin or ultra-thin speakers. Bear in mind that ultra-thin speakers are the most expensive on the market.
If you have 8 or 9 inches of depth behind your ceiling, then go with even enclosure ceiling speakers. They come with in-built subwoofers for a high-quality deep bass sound.
Speaker Shape
There are only two choices in this category, round, and square. This is determined by the room style. If it has more of a square, or angular, design, then square speakers would work better. Square speakers will also look better if the downlights are square.
The sound quality is the same in both shapes.
Speaker Size
You can find 3-inch cone ceiling speakers. These are made for wide spaces because you’ll need a good number of them for full sound distribution. They’re made mainly to blend in with downlights.
If you’re choosing speakers for a small to medium-sized room, then look for 6.5-inch speakers. They’re easy to install and offer many practical features.
For larger rooms, 8-inch speakers would be your best bet. They provide better sound quality and ensure that the sound will travel to all corners of the room.
Conclusion
When you decide to install a home theater system, it’s natural you’ll want the best ceiling speakers. Those are the ones that give you a good bass response with detailed midranges and clear highs.
Our top pick is the Acoustic Audio CS-IC83. It’s the perfect combination of sleek design, high-quality sound, and great price. This set of five speakers features an 8-inch polymer cone woofer, as well as a 13 mm soft dome tweeters. Put together, they provide smooth, natural sounds. They can be installed both indoors and outdoors thanks to their versatile all-weather design.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more, then Klipsch CDT-5650-C II is a perfect choice. These speakers bring out the best Klipsch has to offer. From its exclusive CDT system and attenuation switches, to its pivoting woofer and tweeter, this speaker provides smooth, even sounds.
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